Electrical switchboard for coin-operated machines



{No Model.)

J. L. BLODGBTT.

ELECTRICAL SW-ITGHBOARD FOR COIN OPERATED MACHINES. No.. 593,919.Patented Nova 16, 1897. @993. Q

Prion.

ATENT JERRY L. BLoDeETnoF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH-BOARD FO'R COIN-OPERATED MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent No. 593,919, datedNovember 16, 1897. Application filed July 20, 1897. Serial No. 645,279.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- 7 Be it known that I, JERRY L. BLODGETT,a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the countyof LosiAngeles and State of California, have invented anew and usefulElectrical Switchboard for Coin-Operated- Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification. r

This invention is designed for use on coinoperated machines fordelivering articles or,

" giving service to persons depositing coins therein, and is applicablefor telephones, phonographs, kinetoscopes, and vending-ma chines ofvarious'kinds.

The object of this invention is to provide an automatic absolutelyaccurate device for supplying to the depositor of the coin the articleor service for which the coin is deposited and to prevent any fraudulentmanipulation vented electrical switchboard with operative parts which goto make up a vending-machine. -Fig.'2 is a plan of a fragment of avending-machine embodying my invention adapted for delivering any one ofvarious articles at the option of the one by whom the coin is deposited.Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional elevation on line 3 3, Fig. l.

A indicates a vulcanized-rubber plate with horizontal channels 1 2 forslideways and with vertical channels 3 4 5 6 7 forcoin-slotways, withtheir lower open ends at the top of the upper slideway 1.

B indicates a circuit-closing coin-carrying slide in such upper slidewayand" provided with coin-receptacles 3 4, 850. to receive coins from theslotways 3 4, &c., respectively, and also provided with lever-operatingstops 1) 1). Suitable means-such, for instance, as the crank O with arms0 c and the pin bare provided for moving-the coin-slide. Electricalcontact-points D D are provided below the slideway 1 and arranged twobeneath each slotway to support a coin dropped through such slotw'ayinto the receptacle 3, &c., and

.tacts. slideways with one end betweenthe stops b b I betherebyelectrically connected to make a circuit. Ooinways 3 4", &c., areprovided of contacts.

E indicates stationary contacts, one at the side of each coinway.

F indicates pivoted contacts, one for each coinway at the side oppositethe contactpoint E. g

G indicates a contact-moving slide in the lower slideway to operate thepivoted con- A lever H is pivoted between the of the coin-slide and theother end operatively connected with the contact-slide to move the sameand thereby move the pivoted contacts into the coinways to intercept thecoin when the receptacle is above the coinways, thereby to hold the coinbetween the contacts to form a second circuit.

I indicates a magnet for operating any suitable means for delivering thearticle desired or to operate mechanism for performing a desiredservice, and it" indicate electrical contacts, the connection betweenwhich is made by the slide B when the same is in position to drop thecoin into the coinways below the slide B.

J indicates a spring for automatically returning the slide B to itsnormal position to again bring the coin-receptacles beneath theirrespective coin-slots. This spring is shown arranged to throw the crankinto its returned position K indicates a battery for furnishing therequisite electrical energy.

L indicates a lock for the crank C, and M a magnet for releasing suchlock.

- When the circuit is closed between the contact-points D D,- thisconnects the magnet M with the battery and the magnet M will beenergized and the lock-catch thrown into the position indicated indotted lines, and the lever 0 is thus released, so that it can be turnedin the direction of the arrow to throw the broken by the removal of thecoin, so that I the arm 0 or some other suitable part conthe magnet M isno longer energized and the lock is therefore allowed to return toposition to lock the lever upon its return to normal position. lVhen thecoin-carrying slide B is in position to drop the coin into anyone of thecoinways, the stops Z) I) will have thrown the lever H into position tomove the contact-slide G, so as to move the movable contacts F tointercept the coin in any of the coinways. The coin then closes thecircuit between the contacts E F, thus to connect the battery toenergize the magnets I I, &c., which operate suitable mechanisms N N,&c., for delivering the desired article.

N is a latch for holding the slide N in its retracted position againstthe tension of the spring n.

H indicates a spring to hold the latch N to catch the slide N.

N is a bar for simultaneously moving all the slides N to the catches N,one catch being provided for each slide. The bar N engages a shoulder non the slide when actuated by the arm 0 of the lever O.

n is a connecting-bar which extends from the bar N to be operated by thearm 0.

In practical operation when the lever C is drawn to the right thisthrows the arm a to the left and releases the bar I so that the slidesare held by their respective latches N, and the coin which falls intothe coinway causes an electric current through the appropriate magnet Ito draw down the armaturelateh N, thus to release the appropriate slideN, and the spring n thereof actuates the slide to deliver the packagewhich has fallen down from the chute N.

it indicate electrical contacts to be 0011- nected by thecireuit-closing coin-carrying slide B when the same is thrown out todeposit the coin into the coinway. This makes and breaks the circuitbetween the battery and the magnets I, which are connected with thecontact-points E F and operated by the coin in the coinway. \Vhcn thelever is thrown to deposit a coin in a coinway, the circuit between thebattery and the contactpoints E F of all the coinways will be closed, sothat the coin in any coinway will complete the circuit and energize themagnet I I, &c., pertaining to that coinway. \Vhen the lever is thrownback, the circuit, which was closed by the coin in the coinway, will beopen, regardless of the connection made by the coin, so that if a coinshould stick in the coinway and continue to make the connection betweenthe contact-points E F of the coinway the battery will not be exhausted,because the circuit is opened by the withdrawal of the slide B.

The arms 0 c, which are connected with the lever for the purpose ofacting upon the pin Z) for operating the slide B, are at a suitabledistance apart to operate the pin 1) to throw theslide B in oppositedirections when the lever is appropriately turned for that purpose.

The catch of the lever-lock L hooks over nected with the lever to lockthe lever in its normal position. This catch is so placed that beforethe lever moves the slide B to return it to normal position the catchlocks the lever against any return of the same, so that after the slide13 is started back toward its normal position the lever cannot be againthrown to move the slide B outward until such slide has been fullyreturned to its coinreceiving position, and the contact-points it" areso arranged with relation to the slide that immediately after the slidemoves it breaks the circuit, and the catch of the lock has locked thelever C before the stop I; has engaged the lever II to return thepivoted contact-points and release the coin. This effectually preventsany manipulation of the machine to obtain articles or service except bydropping the coin into the slot, as intended.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a slide with a coinreceptacle therein beneath acoin-slot; electrical contacts beneath the receptacle to support a coinin the receptacle and be thereby electrically connected to make acircuit; means for moving the slide; a coinway below the slide, and atone side of a vertical line drawn from said contacts, to receive thecoin when the slide has moved it from beneath the coin-slot; anelectrical contact on one side of the coinway; a movable electricalcontact on the opposite side of such way and operatively connected withthe slide to movein to the coinway when the receptacle is above the'coinway, thereby to hold the coin between the contacts to form a secondcircuit.

2. The combination of a coin-slide with a coin -receptaele thereinbeneath a coin-slot; electrical contacts beneath the receptacle tosupport a coin in the receptacle and be thereby electrically connectedto make a circuit; means for moving the slide; a coinway below theslide, and at one side of a vertical line drawn from said contacts, toreceive the coin when the slide has moved it from beneath the coin-slot;an electrical contact on one side of the coinway; a movable electricalcontact on the opposite side of such way; a contact-operating slideconnected with such movable contact to operate the same; a leverarranged to operate the contact-slide and arranged in the path of stopson the coin-slide to be operated thereby.

3. The combination of a vulcanized-rubber plate with horizontal channelsfor slideways and with vertical channels for coin-slots with their loweropen ends at the top of the upper slideway; a circuit-closingcoin-carryin g slide in such slideway and provided with a coinreceptacleto receive coins from the slotways respectively, and also provided withleveroperating stops; means for moving the coinslide; electricalcontact-points below the slideway and arranged two beneath each slotway,to support a coin dropped through such slotway into the receptacletherefor; coinways below the slide, one at the side of each pair of saidcontacts; stationary contacts, one at the side of each coinway; pivotedcontacts, one at the opposite side of each coinway; a contact-movingslide in the lower slideway to operate the pivoted contact; a leverpivoted between the slideways, with one end between the stops of thecoin-slide and other end operatively connected with the contact. v

4. The combination of a slide with a coinreceptacle therein beneath acoin-slot; electrical contacts beneath the receptacle to support a coinin the receptacle and be thereby electrically connected to make acircuit; a'

lever for moving the slide; and a lock for locking such lever andarranged to be released by said magnet.

5. 'l he combination of the slide provided with Mcoin-receptaclea-ndhaving a projecting pin; a lever with two arms to operate uponopposite sides of the pin to move the slide in opposite directions; alock for locking the lever; a magnet for unlocking such lock; anelectrical circuit 'for energizing the magnet; and contactpoints in suchcircuit and arranged to be electrically connected by a coin in thereceptacle of the slide.

JERRY L. BLODGET'D, Witnesses JAMES R. TOWNSEND, F. M. TOWNSEND.

